Driver Includes a Week of Packers’ Milestones

His wife, Tina, welcomed baby Charity Danette Driver — the couple’s third kid — into the globe at 5:39 p.m. Wednesday night. The stats: seven pounds, 3 ounces.

A day later against the Saints, Driver got his 700th career reception within the initial quarter, on the Packers second drive to the top zone. he’s simply the thirty third player in NFL history to affix the 700 club.

And all he required for an ideal week was forty two yards to become inexperienced Bay’s all-time leading receiver.

He didn’t get it.

A nine-yard catch within the fourth quarter gave Driver 9,656 career receiving yards, tying the all-time record by James Lofton . He trotted off the sector with the ever-present smile, knowing he tied however didn’t break the record.

“I hoped we tend to may get him another catch,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “I knew we tend to were shut. after I hit him on that pass, I knew that he was within the 30s which he required to induce forty two to interrupt it. I threw it to him and he hunted at the scoreboard; i feel he was seeing what number yards we tend to got and his expression quite said that he was somewhat short. we tend to tried to induce him the ball once more, simply didn’t have the chance.”

With the Packers leading, 42-34, heading in to the ultimate 2 minutes, it simply didn’t build sense to throw the ball, thus inexperienced Bay ran out the clock. meaning Driver can need to opt for it on the road next week at Carolina and won’t get the ovation from the house crowd.

Still, he’s to noto huge of a star not to play special groups. He caught the onside kick right before the top of the sport.

“I can’t even tell you the way repeatedly he’s done that in his career,” said coach Mike McCarthy . “That very tells you what quite player he’s. He’s had a heck of a twenty four hours. Donald’s special.”

Divide and conquer: Running backs coach Jerry Fontenot said he would split the carries between his 2 running backs.

At first that didn’t even look potential. With Rodgers finishing fourteen of his initial fifteen passes, the Packers had to travel with the new hand.

But by the 0.5, the James Starks had 5 carries, thirty yards and one huge touchdown; Ryan Grant had 5 carries, 26 yards.

“James did well, most likely didn’t have the tries that he deserved,” said McCarthy.

In the end, even with the clear aerial attack, the Packers managed 102 speeding yards by the backs: fifty seven for Starks, forty for Grant and five for Kuhn.

“It’s a real check to how well the road is obstructing,” said Starks. “Plus the receivers, tight ends — it had been a complete team effort.”

Big opener: The Packers scored forty two points in their season-opening win. It’s the second-highest gap purpose total in concerning 9 decades of Packers history. the very best scoring opener was their initial game, when coach Earl “Curly” Lambeau directed the Packers to a 53-0 victory over Menominee North finish A.C. in 1919.

Woodson’s cool: Packers cornerback Charles Woodson dawned a drag that the sport announcers said he most likely ought to have received an ejection; Woodson hit one in all the Saints with an uppercut.

“I lost my cool,” said Woodson. “A guy was blocking me and holding me.”

And he’s certain he are going to be fined over it.

“I’m certain I will; all the folks round the NFL saw it,” said Woodson. “There’s nothing I will do concerning it currently.”

Woodson said the Packers’ defense overall left one thing to be desired, let go 477 total yards.

“There’s lots of things we’d like to require care of,” said Woodson. “At some purpose you’ve need to build a play; we tend to did build enough plays to win.”

Finley’s huge night: For people who were involved that the leaner Jermichael Finley may not be the blocker the Packers want, he had a solution on Starks’ 10-yard run within the second quarter.

Finley opened one door and Tom Crabtree the opposite to permit Starks to cruise through the outlet.

Finley, taking part in in his initial game since Week five of 2010, conjointly had four catches for fifty three yards.

Injury update: Safety Nick Collins suffered a wrist bruise and came back to the second 0.5 in an exceedingly splint. Cornerback Tramon Williams conjointly hurt his right shoulder when he collided with Collins on a pass play. “I don’t have specifics,” said McCarthy.

Rodgers on the rookie: Rodgers and rookie Randall Cobb walked through the tunnel back to the locker space at the top of the sport, all laughs and smiles. Cobb brought back the 108-yard kickoff come back and otherwise had 2 catches — for thirty five yards, as well as a thirty two yard touchdown.

“It’s exciting watching him with the ball in his hands,” said Rodgers. “The come back was unbelievable. The catch and run — where he really ran the incorrect route — i used to be ready to scan him. Surprisingly, as a result of we tend to didn’t have offseason workouts, i used to be ready to scan his body language. And he created a pleasant catch and run for a touchdown.”

Extra points: “Great game to observe, I’m certain TV is happy and our fans are happy,” said McCarthy. . . .

The Packers can are available in tomorrow to create corrections before McCarthy can offer them the weekend off. . . .

McCarthy said fatigue wasn’t a problem the least bit along with his no-huddle.